Monday, March 26, 2007

 

By Brad Burke
of the Journal Star

 

PEORIA - Not long ago, comedian George Carlin had an hour’s worth of new material that he figured would last a while. He could milk it for a year or two, rehashing the best jokes as he gradually added new ones to his repertoire.

 

But, as Carlin told a crowd of more than 1,700 who watched him perform stand-up at the Civic Center Theater on Sunday night, that material was too morbid for his tastes. Basically, it was “some depressing (expletive),” he said.

 

So he scrapped it. All of it. Thus, the George Carlin who played Peoria was a new man armed with new material. And while his set may be a work in progress, it’s energetic, enthusiastic and not at all depressing.

 

Oh, and funny. Don’t forget funny.

 

It’s refreshing to see Carlin, perhaps the world’s most respected living comedian, writing so much new stuff so late in his career. At 69, he could be resting on his laurels. Constructing and memorizing a brand new 75-minute set is no easy task, as evidenced by the stack of notes he sporadically consulted during his performance.

 

But Carlin assured the crowd, who had paid $42.50 a pop to see him, that he was “not trying this stuff out on you.”

 

It was easy to believe him. After all, the notes served as guides, not training wheels. He may not have every word of this new set memorized yet, but Carlin didn’t flub one punch line, and he maintained a solid, energetic rhythm. (Save for one or two transitions that the comedian conceded were like “corners that need rounding.”)

 

Yet while Carlin’s new material may be less depressing, it’s no less disgusting. Carlin is as vile and vulgar as ever, but in an almost endearing way. At this stage in his career, the old guy comes off less like America’s last angry man and more like its perverted grandpa - the one who would whisper dirty jokes to you at the dinner table.

 

Still, he has opinions about issues more relevant than incest and bestiality. His solution to obesity? “Tax fat (people)… . You’ll see a lot of chubby (expletive) joggers.” What about social security? “Dump old men in the woods… . They have 64 years to figure out how to survive.”

 

Oh, and don’t even get him started on Lance Armstrong. Yes, THAT Lance Armstrong, the cancer survivor.

 

“(Expletive) Lance Armstrong,” he said. “I’m just tired of being told who to admire in this country… . I’ll pick my own heroes, thanks.”

 

Of course, Carlin’s favorite target is himself, especially his old age. He frequently riffed on his new “old guy” habits, like drooling in his sleep and complaining that he’s tired or (even better) cold to escape dull social functions.

 

“I’m an old (expletive),” he said.

 

And a funny one, even with the notes.

 

Brad Burke can be reached at 686-3262 or bburke@pjstar.com.